4/5-8/10 / N=1,000 Registered Likely Voters / MOE +/- 3.1% 1 THE GWU BATTLEGROUND POLL A national...

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4/5-8/10 / N=1,000 Registered “Likely” Voters / MOE +/- 3.1%

THE GWU BATTLEGROUND POLLA national survey of 1,000 Registered “Likely” VotersA national survey of 1,000 Registered “Likely” Voters

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38%34% 36%

39%

32%28% 31%

60%67%

54%55%

62%

51%56%

9%9%11%

7% 7% 9% 7%

Right Direction 39% 28% 32% 31% 38% 34% 36%

Wrong Track 54% 67% 60% 62% 51% 56% 55%

Unsure 7% 7% 9% 7% 11% 9% 9%

Mar-05 Oct-05 Feb-06 Sep-06 Jul-09 Dec-09 Apr-10

2006 2010

Do you think things in the country are going in the right direction or are on the wrong track?

MIDTERM TRENDS

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If the election for Congress were being held today, and you had to make a choice, would you be voting for the Republican candidate or the

Democrat candidate in your Congressional district?

42%

18%

40%

Republican Undecided Democrat

GOP DEM

Republicans 85% 2%

Independents 32% 25%

Democrats 4% 83%

4


If the election for Congress were being held today, and you had to make a choice, would you be voting for the Republican candidate or the

Democrat candidate in your Congressional district? MIDTERM TRENDS

41% 41% 40% 41%

42%42%

40%35%

41%

37% 40%40%40%39%

41%39%43%

49%46%44% 44% 46%

18%18%17%10%14%13%

15%

26%23% 20%

16%

Republican 35% 37% 41% 40% 41% 41% 40% 41% 40% 42% 42%

Democrat 39% 41% 39% 44% 44% 46% 46% 49% 43% 40% 40%

Undecided 26% 23% 20% 16% 15% 13% 14% 10% 17% 18% 18%

Apr-01 Jun-01 Jan-02 Jun-02 Mar-05 Oct-05 Feb-06 Sep-06 Jul-09 Dec-09 Apr-10

2002 2006 2010

5


Do you prefer to have a divided government where Congress is controlled by one party and the White House is controlled by a different political party, OR a unified government where Congress and the White House

are controlled by the same political party?

34%40%

25%

Divided Unsure Unified

Divided Gov’t

Unified Gov’t

Republicans 54% 18%


Democrats 25% 52%

6


Now, I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the country have said are important to them. Please listen as I read the list and tell me which one issue

you think is most important for Congress to work on?

39%

13%

11%

7%

6%

5%

4%

3%

3%

16%

12%

18%

13%

10%

8%

7%

9%

6%

Economy & jobs

Government spending

Health care reform

Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan

Retirement & social security

Illegal immigration

Taxes

Terrorism & homeland security

Reforming Wall Street

1st Issue 2nd Issue

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How would you rate the job Congress is doing this year? Do you approve or disapprove of the job they are doing?

68%

24%

8%

Approve Unsure Disapprove

Approve Disapprove

Republicans 5% 92%


Democrats 44% 44%

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24%

37%34%32%

24%

57%62%

56%

68% 68%

8%7% 6%9% 8%

Approve 37% 32% 34% 24% 24%

Disapprove 56% 62% 57% 68% 68%

Unsure 7% 6% 9% 8% 8%

Feb-06 Sep-06 Jul-09 Dec-09 Apr-10

2006 2010

How would you rate the job Congress is doing this year? Do you approve or disapprove of the job they are doing?

MIDTERM TRENDS

9


Thinking specifically about Democrats in Congress, do you approve or disapprove of the job the Democrats in Congress are doing?

57%

36%

7%


Approve Disapprove

Republicans 3% 91%


Democrats 72% 23%

10


Thinking specifically about Republicans in Congress, do you approve or disapprove of the job the Republicans in Congress are doing?

59%

32%

9%


Approve Disapprove

Republicans 55% 35%


Democrats 14% 81%

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47% 49%

4%


Approve Strongly

Disapprove Strongly

37% 40%

How would you rate the job Barack Obama is doing as President? Do you approve or disapprove of the job he is doing?

12


Whether you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President, what is your impression of Barack Obama

as a person? Do you approve or disapprove of him?

21%

9%

69%


13


Now I would like to read you the names of several individuals and organizations that have been mentioned in the news recently. For each one, please tell me whether you have heard of that person or organization, and if so, whether

you have a favorable or an unfavorable impression of that person. If you do not recognize the name, just say so.

54%

56%

45%

49%

32%

30%

42%

40%

42%

40%

52%

54%

5%

8%

9%

8%

3%

3%

8%

9%

9%

3%

Barack Obama

Dec-09

Joe Biden

Dec-09

Nancy Pelosi

Dec-09

Favorable Unfavorable No Opinion Never Heard Of

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Now I would like to read you the names of several individuals and organizations that have been mentioned in the news recently. For each one, please tell me whether you have heard of that person or organization, and if so, whether

you have a favorable or an unfavorable impression of that person. If you do not recognize the name, just say so.

38%

14%

32%

17%

18% 12%

52%17%

The Tea PartyMovement

John Boehner

Favorable Unfavorable No Opinion Never Heard Of

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ISSUE HANDLING

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WHO WILL BETTER HANDLE THIS ISSUE?

Republicans in Congress ORDemocrats in Congress

41%

40%

44%

44%

35%

34%

56%

55%

47%

44%

32%

32%

52%

48%

28%

28%

Turning the economy around

Dec-09

Controlling wasteful spending

Dec-09

Reforming health care

Dec-09

Holding down taxes

Dec-09

GOP DEM

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Republicans in Congress ORDemocrats in Congress

56%

56%

40%

42%

35%

35%

32%

31%

45%

42%

49%

47%

Promoting a strong nationaldefense

Dec-09

Sharing your values

Dec-09

Promoting energyindependence

Dec-09

GOP DEM

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Republicans in Congress ORPresident Obama

41%

41%

46%

45%

36%

40%

53%

52%

42%

47%

33%

38%

52%

48%

31%

34%

Turning the economy around

Dec-09

Controlling wasteful spending

Dec-09

Reforming health care

Dec-09

Holding down taxes

Dec-09

GOP OBAMA

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Republicans in Congress ORPresident Obama

49%

53%

42%

42%

37%

38%

39%

38%

44%

43%

49%

47%

Promoting a strong nationaldefense

Dec-09

Sharing your values

Dec-09

Promoting energyindependence

Dec-09

GOP OBAMA

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32%

31%

38%

41%

34%

34%

45%

48%

41%

52%

46%

46%

43%

43%

36%

34%

Getting things done (GOP v DEM)

Getting things done (REP v BHO)

Creating jobs (GOP v DEM)

Creating jobs (GOP v BHO)

Reforming Wall Street (GOP v DEM)

Reforming Wall Street (GOP v BHO)

Controlling the deficit (GOP v DEM)

Controlling the deficit (GOP v BHO)

GOP DEM/BHO

21


Based on what you know, would you say that you favor or oppose the health care reform bill that Congress passed and President Obama

recently signed into law?

52%

4%

44%

Favor Unsure Oppose

Favor Strongly

Oppose Strongly

26% 43%

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Based on what you have seen, read and heard, do you think that you and your family would benefit from these health care reforms?

58%

34%

8%

Yes Unsure No

Yes No

Republicans 5% 89%


Democrats 63% 28%

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Based on what you have seen, read and heard, do you think that the country would benefit from these health care reforms?

46% 49%

5%

Yes Unsure No

Yes No

Republicans 12% 83%


Democrats 86% 10%

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Combined views on impact of health care

43%

2%

16%

33%

Family and nationwill benefit

Only nation willbenefit

Only family willbenefit

Family and nationwill not benefit

25


Some people have talked about repealing and replacing the health care reform law passed by Congress than President Obama recently signed

into law. Thinking about this, would you favor or oppose repealing and replacing this law?

40%

8%

51%

Favor Unsure Oppose

26


Some people have talked about repealing the health care reform law passed by Congress than President Obama recently signed into law. Thinking about this, would you favor or oppose repealing this law?

50%

5%

44%

Favor Unsure Oppose

27


Thinking about your feelings about this health care reform law… Would you say that you are:

15%

23%

16%

33%

7%5%

Angry Concerned Frustrated Hopeful Excited Something else

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47%

49%

This health care reform law is a government takeover of one-sixth of the American economy that will lead to higher medical costs, higher taxes, reduced quality of health care services, and will ultimately kill small business jobs.

This health care reform law is a historic achievement that will expand health insurance coverage to millions of Americans, end insurance company abuses, help small businesses provide coverage, reduce prescription drug costs, and lower the deficit.

Please tell me which viewpoint comes closest to your own:

Voters are fairly evenly split on political messaging of health care

A majority of Independents (50%) lean toward the GOP position of higher medical costs/higher taxes and quality reduced.

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How concerned are you about the federal government’s current level of spending and debt:

46%

26%

18%

6%3%

1%

Extremelyconcerned

Very concerned Somewhatconcerned

Not too concerned Not at allconcerned

Unsure/Refused

72% of voters are extremely or very concerned about the federal government’s current level of spending and debt.

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58%

39%

The current level of government spending is a necessary response to save and create jobs, ensure national security, and fight two wars. Once the economy recovers, we will be able to pay down the deficit and the national debt.

The current level of government spending is already unsustainable and irresponsible. This increased government spending has not created jobs, will double the national debt, and will lead to increased taxes on the middle class.

Please tell me which viewpoint comes closest to your own:

Political messaging on government spending

A majority of Independents (60%) lean toward the GOP position that the current level of spending is already unsustainable and irresponsible.

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50%

45%

Currently there is not government agency with the sole mission of overseeing financial products sold to consumers and small businesses, like mortgages, bank loans and credit cards. Congress and President Obama are currently discussing creating an agency to create and enforce rules for

financial products.

This agency represents one of the worst trends in politics today – Congress failing to take tough choices about regulations and instead giving this job to unaccountable federal bureaucrats. We do not need another federal agency wasting more of our hard earned tax dollars to do work that Congress should be doing.

We need an independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency to create and enforce fair, affordable, understandable, and transparent rules for financial products like mortgages and credit cards and stop banks and credit card companies from tricking people with teaser rates, hidden fees and small print.

Political messaging on financial reform

A majority of Independents (51%) lean toward the GOP position that there are enough protections and no new agency is needed.

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76%

71%

62%

43%

72%

78%

69%

79%

69%

64%

73%

54%

Republican

Independent

Democrat

18-29

30-44

45-59

60+

Very Conservative

Somewhat Conservative

Moderate/Liberal

Married

Single

Extremely Likely to Vote

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80%

76%

76%

67%

73%

66%

78%

62%

Government Spending Voters

Taxes Voters

Rep on Generic Ballot

Dem on Generic Ballot

Divided Government Voters

Unified Government Voters

Fam/Nation will NOT benefit from HC

Fam/Nation will benefit from HC

Extremely Likely to Vote

4/5-8/10 / N=1,000 Registered Likely Voters / MOE +/- 3.1% 1 THE GWU BATTLEGROUND POLL A national...

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